Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-01

Sup intendent Kemble, Principal Hatch
and his assistants, Misses Briggs, HAYES
and REYNOLDS aud Mrs. Nessenson were
also present, as were the high school
classes. There was large attendance of
patrons and friends of the public schools,
among others ex- Directors Barge and
Stafford.
The programme opened with prayer BY
Rev |. W. Read, followed by music by
Mrs. j. F. Robinson
Mr. ] J. Reimers, president of the
board OF education, then in behalf of the
board extended hearty welcome to all
present. "Yon have been invited here
this afternoon" sail President Reimers,
"tO look over and inspect building de
signed to promote the mental, moral and
physical well being of the rising genera
NON. The need of new high school
building, Mr. Reimers said, had been felt
here for many years, the rooms hereto
fore used being miserably adapted to this
purposc-poorly heated and ventilated
and very inconvenient of ingress and
egress Indeed, one of the grsvest OBJ
jectiOns has been the long and steep
stairs that must be climbed, and which
physicians have told US is very trying
and injurious to our delicate girls.
Continuing Mr.. Reimers said:
The completed building which you are
here to view. has none of these objec-
tons, and we think the people of Rock
| Island can take pride in this as one of the
handsomest buildings and one of the
| most complete and convenient for it,
| purpose in the state. 1t would doubt
less have been built long ago, had not the
expense involved let successive boards OF
| education defer action. 1t has cost
somewhat more than we expected, but VIZ
ask You all to say after looking it over, il
| Won regret single dollar that has beer
put in it,
Tue cost all told, as the building now
stands, including new furniture, has beer
about S27 500 Mr.. Schnell the con-
tractor, undoubtedly made very little GU
of this contract He gave the city dis
trict at least from So. 900 to 81 ZOO tina
he may have fairly figured for profit on 81
large al undertaking, as the building il
well worth, as it now stands $4,000
Have we found any opposition to this
undertaking. But very little-sueh q
there may have been from a mistaken
idea that free schools should be confined
to the lower branches, obliging those VIII
want higher education TO pay for 1t il
expensive private institutions; or if the
were unable, to go without it. | have n
sympathy with such II feeling. My schoo
education was limited, and my attend
ance limited. But have felt my deprI
7ation keenly ever since. and have sal
thai | would never he found standing i
the way of any ambitious boy or girl VIII
desired to gain practical education thu
would fit them for the battle of life.
all were rich the high schools might /
omitted from the scheme of public ednc'
ton, but with the great malority-the poo
the duties are imperative on all who a
called to the management of district a
fairs to provide the best possible facil
ties for the thorough education of Il
Young. With these few words l will il
troduce to you the Hon. W. Fl. Gest. O.
congressman, who will now address yoI
In responding, Congressman Gest sal
Il am not here to-day to boast of o
schools | have done so much of that
home and abroad that am Liable to ma
= myself nuisance, 20 be charged WI
egotism as citizen of my own tow
And yet | cannot forbear saying on
more that l am proud of them. The
are some things in our city that am q
proud of, but our schools are not in th
number" Mr.. Gest contirled:.
We meet today to rejoice in an add
glory-the completion of this new bull
ing | am glad of it. for our citizens,
the teachers and the children. Whel
go to a strange town. about the d
| look at is the school houses If f
them in dilapidated. tumble down, d
ty, disorderly condition, have st
enough, There may be fine hous
great stores, and elegant churches,
the place is deceased at the center of Ii
The fine houses are the abodes of r
ignorance and coarse show. The or,
stores are simply the places where or,
and avarice grow like the leprosy.
the elegant churches the greedy rich IN
to dishonor God. From such a tov
good Lord, deliver us Such town
not ours; here the common people r
the people of limited means, of lii
homes full of bright and beautiful CT
dren, and so may it ever be.
The school Is the best indication of
growth and intelligence of the peop
For that reason am proud for our c